F 



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AA- 



Old-Time Days 
in Newark 



and a 



Half Century of 
Si. Mark's Parish 



IMOGBN RUSSELL 







Class 



A LC 



Book 

Copyright N° 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 




The Old Church 

No. 1 West Miller Street 



©Id-Time Days in Newark 



AND A 



Half Century of St. Mark's Parish 



By 
IMOGEN RUSSELL 



WW 



• 



NEWARK, N. Y. 

JOHN H. TELLER, Publisher. 
1902. 



TtfFT.fBRAftY OF 

CONGRESS, 
TwoCowe* RK3»vec 

AUG. 13 1902 

C0l»VW0HT SHTHV 

ICLASS ^ XXa No. 



INTRODUCTORY 



I T is not the intention of the writer of this sketch to give a 
detailed account of the foundation of Newark, with all its 
attendant circumstances, a task of more difficulty than she cares 
to attempt, but rather to narrate reminiscences gathered here 
and there from old residents in whose memories the events of 
former years have lingered, cherished remembrances of the 
time when, to them, the opportunities and activities of life were 
just unfolding and all the world was young. To those enjoying 
a well-earned rest after long and busy years of toil, it is a 
pleasure to recall the happenings of a period when nothing 
seemed impossible and when the discouragements which wait 
upon experience were still unknown. 

And it may not be unprofitable for the younger people, 
accustomed to the advantages of the twentieth century, to be 
reminded of more prim"it;v£ times. F^Jjij if Society, we**ej>erhaps 
less cultured than it is now" it* wa*s,*at ieaat, abuhjajit Jn those 
acts of sympathy and*u?is^lfi^iaess.,wJiij3h. are the truest graces 
that can adorn comm^jnrtrss.a? # V^\]. , a? tn;dwiduals. ..' •* * 

:: -L R. 



Copyright, 1902 
By IMOGEN RUSSELL 



©Id-Time Days in Newark 



ccording to an original map, carefully 
preserved by the late Joel H. Prescott, the 
village of Newark or ''Miller's Basin," as 
it was sometimes called, was laid out by 
Captain Joseph Miller in 1819, the land which was 
platted being part of 100 acres purchased by Mr. 
Miller of Jacob Lusk. 

There are different opinions as to why the name 
of Newark was chosen for the little settlement. It 
is stated that James P. Bartle, who was the first 
man to engage in business here, while traveling east 
by stage, passed through Newark, New Jersey, and 
was so impressed by its beauty that he gave this 
village the same name, doubtless without thinking 
of the trouble that express companies and mail 
clerks would inflict on future generations. Some 
have thought, however, that the name was derived 
from one of the parties to an ancient deed belong- 
ing to the Peirson family, a copy of which appeared 
in the Arcadian Gazette several years ago. This 
deed was made June 6, 1815, and conveyed to Silas 

3 



Peirson, the father of Henry R. and George Peirson, 
78i acres of land situated in Hydesville, now the farm 
of Frank Welcher. Two of the grantors were 
English noblemen : Ernest Augustus, Duke of 
Cumberland, and Charles Herbert Pierrepoint, 
' 'commonly called Viscount Newark." This sec- 
tion of country was then included in Ontario 
county, and the New York attorney chosen by the 
Englishmen to attend to the transfer of the title 
designated Joseph Fellows of Geneva as his agent. 
The consideration was $314., 

Newark, N. J., was begun in 1666 by a colony 
from New England. The Rev. Mr. Pierson of 
Branford, in the New Haven colony, migrated, with 
most of his flock, to the young settlement in New 
Jersey and named it Newark in honor of his Eng- 
lish home. So it seems, in any case, that the name 
of our village came across the sea, and all the mis- 
haps suffered by our citizens on account of it can 
be cheerfully laid at the door of the mother- 
country. 

At first only four streets were opened in Newark. 
What is now known as Main street was then called 
Vienna street because it was the road leading to 
Phelps, which village was then called Vienna. 
This road had been laid out at an early period. 
Palmyra street was so named because it led in the 
direction of Palmyra, and Willow avenue was 
known as Sodus street, and is thus laid down on an 
old map, because it led toward Sodus. Union 



street was first called Bartle street and later Canal 
street. 

The land along Willow avenue was swampy, and 
portions of the street were made passable by placing 
logs across it, forming what is called in pioneer 
settlements "corduroy roads." The hill on which 
now stands the Custodial Asylum was covered with 
forest trees, and the land south of the Bartle farm- 
house, the present home of Marion Moore, now 
devoted to rose culture by Charles W. Perkins, 
was then a red willow swamp. There were woods 
north of the canal and also adjacent to the village 
in other directions. Mrs. Lydia Sherman recalls 
gathering beechnuts, when a child, from trees then 
standing in the park. 

In an article written twenty-two years ago for a 
Newark paper by B. F. Jenkins, he gives some 
interesting reminiscences of the village when it was 
a mere hamlet. He resided here in 1828, and states 
that there were then thirty buildings here all told. 
Mr. Jenkins was an apprentice of Caleb Finch, a 
builder, and helped build the house of the Rev. 
Roger Benton as early as 1820 on the land where 
Mrs. J. W. Benton now resides. In a copy of the 
"Wayne Standard" dated October 17, 1840, edited 
by David M. Keeler and published in this village, 
the population of the town of Arcadia, according 
to a census taken the same year, is given as 4,981. 
In 1842 the population of Newark is said to have 
been about 1,200. 

5 



The southwestern part of the present village was 
farming land, sold at an early period by Lucas 
Van Deusen to Abel Blackmar, and was laid out in 
lots by his son Esbon in 1839, as is shown by an 
old map. The first lot that was sold for a dwelling 
house is that now occupied by the residence of Dr. 
McDonald. 

Lucas Van Deusen arrived in Newark with his 
family and household goods in May, 1834. He 
came by canal, landing where Mr. Luce's store 
and that occupied by Fortmiller & Proseus are now 
situated, then a canal basin. The farm he after- 
wards purchased, and which he sold to Abel Black- 
mar, came up to the lot now occupied by Richard 
Palmer's house, near the site of Daggett &Bartle's 
machine shops. This firm manufactured steam 
engines, boilers and the carding machines used in 
woolen mills, did a large business and employed 
over one hundred men. Many of the young men 
of the village learned the trade of machinist in 
these shops, and among the number was William 
Wright, who is now owner of a large manufactur- 
ing plant at Newburgh in this State. Mr. Wright 
manufactured machinery used in the construction 
of ironclads during the Civil War. 

The Daggetts were very prominent in the affairs 
of Newark at the time of their residence here, but 
removed many years ago to California, where the 
youngest son of Mr. Daggett was afterward elected 
to the high office of lieutenant-governor of the 

6 




Farmhouse of Joseph Miller 

The Oldest Dwelling in Newark 



State. Few of the large family are now living. 

In 1819 the land north of the canal and east of 
Willow avenue belonged to the farm of Edmund 
T. Aldrich ; later it became the property of Esbon 
Blackmar who set out on it a pear orchard of twenty 
acres. A map dated 1841 shows the land laid out in 
village lots, but the plans of the owner did not meet 
with a speedy fulfillment for, as is well known, 
comparatively few years have elapsed since this 
portion of the village was cultivated as a farm by Dr. 
Siegrist. On the original map of Newark the land 
southwest of the village is noted as owned by Col. 
Bailey. 

West of Main street, and south from the building 
now occupied as a drug store by John E. Wiser, 
was then a farm formerly owned by Joseph Miller, 
afterward by his son, Joseph A. Miller. The origi- 
nal farmhouse is now the home of the Misses Lay, 
and is said to be the oldest dwelling in Newark 
whose exterior has remained unchanged. The 
house, when built, faced Main street, but was 
moved to its present site on the opening of Miller 
street. 

The farm owned by James P. Bartle, the father of 
Andrew C. Bartle, was in the western part of the 
village, and the substantial and imposing old man- 
sion just west of Stephen N. Keener's residence 
was the Bartle farmhouse. West Miller street, as 
originally laid out, turned in an angle at the 
Bartle homestead and ran northwest to Canal street. 



In 1822 Jacob P. Groat, the father of the present 
Postmaster of Newark, R. P. Groat, came from 
Columbia county, traveling in a covered wagon 
drawn by two horses, bringing with him his family 
and household goods, and settled south of the vil- 
lage at a point called Ninham's Corners, after- 
ward known as Groat's Corners. The journey 
must have been long and wearisome, as the country 
was new and the roads were often bad. However, 
country taverns were frequent along the route, 
affording very welcome, if somewhat primitive, 
accommodations to weary travelers and breaking 
to some extent the fatigue of a long journey. 

Philip Lusk, who owned a large farm near the 
1 'Corners, ' ' opened a general store in a small wooden 
building, and Mr. Groat set up a carriage and 
blacksmith shop. A schoolhouse was also erected 
there at an early day, in which Mr. Crommett, the 
father of Mrs. Egbert Landon, taught school. 
Hiram Aldrich also taught there, and Frederick 
Rew, the father of Henry C. Rew, was at one time 
teacher at the "Corners." The little settlement at 
Groat's Corners was at first expected to be the 
center of the future town, but the completion of 
the Erie canal in 1825 made the location undesir- 
able, and defeated the ambitious plans of the 
founders of the little hamlet. 

Eighty years ago the southeastern part of the 
village was a farm owned and occupied by Dr. 
Cyrus S. Button. This farm included that owned 

8 



in recent years by Henry Colton who pur- 
chased it of Horace Blackmar. Dr. Button was a 
man of affairs and combined the practice of medi- 
cine with the successful management of a farm. 
He was a strict temperance man in a time when 
total abstinence was very rare and most unfashion- 
able, and when even ministers were accustomed to 
purchase liquors for their own use. In the old 
account books found in the building which was 
torn down to make way for the Pioneer Block, are 
many entries of rum and whiskey sold by James P. 
Bartle to the clergymen resident here at the time. 
The same custom doubtless prevailed here then as 
in New England, where it was considered a breach 
of hospitality not to set out a well-filled decanter 
when the minister called. 

Portions of his farm were sold by Dr. Button for 
building purposes, the lot on Williams street ad- 
joining the home of Mrs. Tabor and Miss Lois 
Allerton being purchased by Ruel Taylor for the 
sum of $25. One quarter of an acre where Dr. 
James Martin resides was offered to Mr. Hayes, the 
husband of Mrs. Martha Hayes, for the same price 
but was indignantly rejected, Mr. H. afterward 
telling his wife that he wondered k 'if Dr. Button 
thought he would build a house in a sheep lane." 
Dr. Button kept sheep on his farm, and no streets 
east of Main street had then been opened in that 
part of the village. The house now occupied by 
Mrs. Tabor was originally the farmhouse of Dr. 

9 



Button, although it has been materially changed 
since his day. Some time after the death of the 
doctor his farm was purchased by Esbon Blackmar, 
by whom it was transferred to Horace Blackmar, 
who subsequently laid -out a portion of it in vil- 
lage lots, and opened Williams and Grant streets. 
East avenue was opened by him after the old 
schoolhouse was built. 

In 1844 the houses on Mason street were few and 
scattered. The old Baptist parsonage was built 
about that time, and was perched on stilts the first 
winter after its erection, the cellar not being dug 
until the following spring. It was built and occu- 
pied by Benjamin Rynders and his family. 
The street was unimproved and grass-grown like a 
country road ; and a path led through what is now 
High street, by means of which the residents of 
that locality made their way through the dilapi- 
dated sheds adjacent to the old Methodist church, 
which then blocked the entrance to Main street. 
Where Miss Galusha's house stands was then a 
pond where the boys and girls of sixty years ago 
skated merrily in the winter season. On the lot 
now occupied by the library stood the home of 
Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Revv, the parents of Henry 
C. Hew. 

James P. Bartle opened the first store in Newark 
in the building recently torn down to give place to 
the Pioneer Block. As an entry is found in an old 
account book of Mr. Battle's of a sale of goods 

10 



made in May, 1822, it is very probable that the 
building was erected prior to that year. In those 
days although the style of building was much more 
simple than at present, the labor connected with it 
was greater. The timber* had to be procured from 
the woods by the builder, and much of the work 
was then done by hand that is now done by ma- 
chinery. One end of Mr. Bartle' s building was used 
as a warehouse, and, when the Erie canal was built, 
a basin was made just east of the warehouse where 
boats could receive or discharge freight or lay up 
over night. When the canal was enlarged, 30 feet 
were taken from Mr. Bartle's premises. The ground 
now occupied by the Sherman Opera House block 
was Mr. Bartle's boat yard. 

James P. Bartle was a man of uncommon busi- 
ness ability, as is evident from the extent of the 
business which he conducted here for many years, 
and the variety of his undertakings. Shrewdly 
considering that it might be better for the village 
to have two stores instead of one, he built that now 
occupied by A. E. Williams and put in two of his 
clerks, Joseph A. Miller and his brother, to run it 
in the name of Miller Bros. Mr. Bartle owned canal 
boats built in his boat yard, and also owned a steamer, 
''The John Jay" which towed his boats, laden with 
grain and flour shipped from his warehouse, down 
the Hudson river to New York. The firm of Bartle, 
Norton & Co. operated flour mills at Phelps, and 
many loads of flour came daily from the mills and 

11 



were delivered at the Bartle warehouse here. Mr. 
Bartle was also a politician and served one term as 
Member of Assembly from this county. 

The opening of the Erie canal had given a won- 
derful impetus to business of all kinds in the vil- 
lages along its route. The means it afforded for 
transporting the produce of the farmer to a large 
market like New York, and returning to him the 
manufactured goods he needed in his home, stimu- 
lated commercial activity to a remarkable degree. 
Newark, while only a straggling, ill -kept settle- 
ment, became a great wheat market, and large 
quantities of grain were bought here. Farmers 
drew their wheat from points as far distant as 
Sodus, and the old residents remember when it 
was not an uncommon thing to see a line of loaded 
wagons extending from the canal to Charles W. 
Stuart's residence, each waiting its turn to be un- 
loaded. Several firms were engaged in the business 
of grain-buying in 1841, among them that of Ford 
& Grant, who also conducted a general store. 

Eliab T. Grant, who came here in 1836 and was 
at one time a partner of Mr. Bartle, succeeded him 
in the mercantile business in the same building. 
The Miller Brothers, on the opposite corner, were 
followed successively by Esbon, Ransom, Horace, 
Abel and Orrin Blackmar. Esbon and Ransom 
Blackmar came to Newark as early as 1826, the 
other members of the family arriving later. The 
Blackmars were prominent in business here at an 

12 



:«; 





/.;'. 






• ■ * •• 



27ie Blaekmar House 

Built by Esbon Blaekmar in 1834 



early day, especially Esbon who engaged exten- 
sively in grain-buying. It is said there was never 
a man in Newark who commanded the confidence 
of the community in a greater degree than did 
Esbon Blackmar ; and the financial reverses which 
came upon him just before his death drew forth the 
sincere sympathy of his business associates. These 
reverses were caused, in a great measure, by his 
inability to dispose advantageously of the western 
lands which he had bought in large quantities at 
tax sales. Mr. Blackmar served one term in the 
Assembly of this State and one term in Congress as 
member from this district. 

Orrin Blackmar was a school boy when he arrived 
here in 1834, his parents, like most settlers of that 
date, moving by canal. After leaving school he 
was employed by his brother Esbon as clerk, sub- 
sequently engaging in business with Horace Black- 
mar and afterwards for himself. He was an active 
and highly respected business man here until his 
death in 1898. The house on Palmyra street, for 
so many years his home, was built by Esbon Black- 
mar. Edwin Blackmar and J. W. Hankenson were 
partners in a clothing store on Palmyra street at an 
early date, Mr. Hankenson subsequently continuing 
the business on his own account for many years in 
his store on Main street. 

Dr. Richard P. Williams, the father of Fletcher 
and Stephen K. Williams, was the first physician 
to settle in Newark. He removed from Benning- 

13 



ton, Vt., in 1823 and remained here, a practicing 
physician, until his death. He built the house on 
the corner of Main and East Miller streets, known 
in later years as the "Pomeroy Homestead," which 
he occupied for some time. He afterward built the 
original part of the house now the home of Dr. 
Landon, removed there and there spent the rest of 
his life. While in the Pomeroy house Dr. Williams 
set out some poplar trees around his premises and, 
as the neighborhood cattle were then in undisturbed 
possession of the streets, he built a high board fence 
around the trees to insure their safety. Village im- 
provement societies were not then in vogue in West- 
ern New York, and but little attention was paid 
to making the surroundings of village homes 
attractive. Whether this attempt of Dr. Williams 
to beautify his home was considered by some an 
affectation of superiority, or whether it aroused a 
feeling of envy in a rival practitioner it is impossi- 
ble to say, but one morning the doctor's protecting 
fence bore this inscription : "Dickie's Horticultural 
Garden." These trees were the first set out in 
the streets of the village and produced, by example, 
the abundant harvest of finely shaded streets for 
which the village is now noted. 

For many years the business men of Newark did 
their banking with the old Bank of Geneva, an in- 
stitution which was established in the village of 
Geneva and held in great esteem in the com- 
mercial circles of this locality. Orrin Blackmar, 

14 



while a young clerk in the employ of his brother 
Esbon, used to drive in a gig the long distance 
through the woods to that village, and return with 
money to disburse among the farmers in payment 
for grain and other products. Probably ' 'knights 
of the road" were not numerous in this locality at 
that time, for there is no account that Mr. Black- 
mar was ever molested on these trips. 

Fletcher Williams was the pioneer banker of 
Newark. He bought the charter of the Palmyra 
Bank January 1st, 1850, of Pliny Sexton and, 
retaining the name, began the business in the house 
where he lived, which is the one standing on the 
east side of Willow avenue, just south of the West 
Shore tracks. In July he removed the business to 
a brick building owned by Rockwell Stone, which 
occupied the site of the Ford block. Here the bank 
remained until about 1852, when, the brick build- 
ing on Main street being finished, Mr. Williams re- 
moved his bank to its present quarters and changed 
its name to Bank of Newark. On April 1st, 1864, 
after fourteen years of existence as a state bank, dur- 
ing which it passed safely through the panic of '57, it 
was reorganized and became the First National Bank 
of Newark. Mr. E. T. Grant, who has been connect- 
ed with the bank for forty-two years, has in his pos- 
session a note payable at the Palmyra Bank, dated 
1852. It was cancelled by being struck with a 
hammer whose head had a rough edge which cut 
the paper at intervals. This was devised by Mr. 

15 



Williams and was in use for a great many years. 

Mr. Williams was the first man in Newark who 
paid special attention to architecture. The house 
now the home of Dr. Landon, and Mr. Williams' 
later residence on East avenue, were modeled from 
the designs of Mr. Upjohn, a New York architect. 
During his long and busy life Mr. Williams always 
took an active interest in all public measures re- 
lating to the improvement of the village, and aided 
them most generously. 

The late Joel H. Prescott, during the active 
period of his life, one of Newark's most useful and 
influential citizens, came here nearly sixty years 
ago. He conducted a general store here for about 
ten years, after which he became Secretary of the 
Wayne County Mutual Insurance Co., which office 
he held until it discontinued business. He then 
engaged in the real estate and insurance business 
on his own account, having his office in the Rock- 
well stone building before mentioned. For a great 
many years he was identified with public affairs 
here, and was especially interested in educational 
matters. To the church of which he was an official 
member for half a century his services were inval- 
uable. Mr. Prescott's courteous aud dignified 
manners, like those of Orrin Blackmar and Fletcher 
Williams, were indicative of ' 'gentlemen of the old 
school" — a class that is now fast dying out. 

Orville Hurd Allerton came to Newark in 1842 
and, in connection with William Tabor, opened a 

16 



general store in a building which he erected on the 
corner where Mr. Hanks' drug store now stands. 
Mr. Allerton's building was peculiar in one respect, 
the first story being of wood and the second of 
brick. There were then five or six stores here, 
presumably all prosperous, as they drew their cus- 
tomers from points as far distant as Sodus. The 
great fire which visited Newark on the night of 
January 18, 1859, burned all the buildings from 
the hardware store of Miller & Cronise to that now 
occupied by Samuel D. Smith. Mr. Allerton re- 
placed his store by the present brick block. Aller- 
ton & Tabor continued business here until the death 
of the latter — a period of twenty- live years. 

The general stores which supplied the people of 
Newark in its early days were of a multifarious 
character. In the same stock might be found mil- 
linery and hardware, broadcloth and molasses, 
kid gloves and candles. Really, merchants needed 
to be "all round" men sixty years ago! And, 
indeed, they seem to have been versatile, for fre- 
quently the man who sold goods was also engaged 
in grain-buying and, in some instances, carried on 
farming and found time also for active participa- 
tion in politics. All sorts of produce were received 
by the merchants in exchange for goods, and, as 
nearly all the business men of that day seem to 
have been engaged in store-keeping at one time 
or another, the occupation must have been very 
profitable. 

17 



The Blackmars, Hnrd & Sherman, Danielson & 
Doane and Ford & Grant had general stores. The 
latter firm bought grain and sold ''Ladies' Florence 
Bonnets." Mighells & Soverhill were tailors; 
Samuel R. Tracy was a carriage maker; S. G. & 
H. Rogers operated the Newark Mills ; M. H. Tuttle 
and Kenyon & Brown kept drug stores. Albert F. 
Cressy opened the first hardware store. Later, 
Miller & Cronise built the store now occupied by 
Lyell Mattisoa and there carried on the hardware 
business for many years. Reed & Barney sold dry 
goods where John Pulver's store now is. Peter P. 
Koher and the firm of Finch & Babcock were build- 
ers here at an early date. The latter built the 
second M. E. church, now the Village Hall. 
Osman Robinson's house was built by Deacon John 
G. Kanouse. Doolittle & Brown were tanners, cur- 
riers and shoemakers. 

The early medical practitioners of Newark were 
Drs. Richard P. Williams, C. S. Button, Terry, A. 
W. Marsh, E. H. Rockwood and Dr. Coventry. 
Dr. Charles G. Pomeroy, probably the most emi- 
nent physician Newark has ever had, came here in 
1845, and during his long life was influential in 
public affairs as well as a leader in his profession. 
Dr. William Vosburgh was at one time associated 
with him. 

George W. Scott and Lyman Sherwood were the 
early lawyers here; Judge Middle ton, Stephen 
Culver, Stephen K. Williams, and Judge Norton 
were later practitioners. 

18 



Stephen Fish, the father of Mrs. Lydia and Mrs. 
Durfee A. Sherman, was one of the early residents 
of Newark, and lived in a house then standing on 
the site of Mr. Gaslin's. Henry L. Fish, the 
younger son, left Newark while a young man and 
settled in Rochester where he became a popular 
and very prominent citizen, holding various impor- 
tant municipal offices, among them that of mayor. 
Clark Phillips is an old resident of this locality, 
having come here with his parents in 1835. Mr. 
Phillips was postmaster of the village five years, 
and one of the commissioners of the Sodus Point 
branch of the Northern Central Railroad for thirty 
years. Associated with him in this capacity at 
different times were Orrin and E. Blackmar, A. W. 
Hyde, J. G. Pitts and P. R. Sleight. 



A^ early as the year 1800, Nicholas Stansell 
had settled in the vicinity of what is now 
East Newark, acquiring the ownership of 
600 acres of land. In 1817 the land on 
which the village is built belonged to William Stan- 
sell, the son of Nicholas, who built and resided in 
the house which was long the home of the late Dr. 
Kelley. Mr. Stansell was a mill-wright and erected 
the first saw-mill in that neighborhood. 

Thomas Lamoreaux, the father of Mrs. Reuben 
Berry and grandfather of David Lamoreaux, moved 
into the neighborhood prior to 1815. Mr. Lamo- 

19 



reaux was a carpenter and, after the Erie canal was 
finished, he and his sons built canal boats for 
James P. Bartle in the latter's boat yard. The 
completion of the first boat was celebrated by a free 
excursion to Palmyra — a treat which must have 
been liberally accepted, for it is said that when the 
party arrived at its destination and applied at the 
hotel for dinner the larder proved insufficient for 
the demand, and a sheep had to be killed and 
dressed before the meal could be prepared. 

At an early date Lockville, as the east village 
was then called, was a busy, thriving place, much 
more promising than its western neighbor, and it 
was confidently expected by its citizens that it 
would become the permanent business center of 
this locality. In this they were disappointed, 
Newark, for some reason, proving more attractive 
to business interests. Lockville was formerly also 
a very lively place socially, and there was much 
dancing and merry-making going on, especially in 
the winter season when the boatmen, many of whom 
resided there, were at home. 

Nathaniel Horton was one of the early settlers, 
moving there in 1828 from Chester, New Jersey. 
His son, Theodore F., was engaged in the drug 
business there for forty-six years, and lived in the 
old homestead. Another influential business man 
and old settler in East Newark was Daniel Kemper 
whose son, Major John H. Kemper, was a veteran 
of the Civil War. The firm of Cronise & Kemper 

20 



had a general store there. The Lusks were also 
old and well known families there. The house 
now occupied by Perry Price was the home of 
Peter Lusk. Stephen D unwell, the grandfather of 
Judge Dunwell, and Leonard L. Whitbeck, a car- 
riage maker and blacksmith, were among the early 
residents of the village. 

About 1840 Jesse Owen & Co., J. S. Crosby, L. 
L. Rose, Roderick Price, George Mills and Williams 
& Mesick were storekeepers in Lockville and most 
of them grain buyers as well. Mr. Rose was en- 
gaged in farming also and active in politics. Pre- 
vious to his study of the law, Judge Norton taught 
school in the east village. 

But the most prominent man in Lockville in its 
early and prosperous days, a man enthusiastic in 
its interests, and who bent all his energies toward 
making it the business center of the town, was Rod- 
erick Price. Mr. Price built a liour mill, bought 
grain and had a store in the same building with his 
warehouse. Although his large business claimed 
much of his time, he took an active part in public 
enterprises, and when the plan of establishing a 
Baptist College on the hill now occupied by the 
Custodial Asylum was proposed, Mr. Price gave 
four acres of land for the site. He afterwards put 
many thousand dollars into the work, which finally 
resulted in failure, his heirs receiving only a small 
return for the large amount he had expended. 



21 



The first church built in Newark was erected 
by the Methodists on the northwest corner 
of the cemetery, near the home of the late 
John Wesley Benton, the land on which it 
stood being part of his father's farm. Roger Ben- 
ton, who was one of the early Methodist preachers, 
with Jeremiah Lusk, the families of Luce and 
Stansell, Henry Cronise, and Messrs. Winters and 
Aldrich were its builders. The church was dedi- 
cated on the 22nd of June, 1816, with the Rev. 
Daniel Barnes as pastor, was used as a church for 
about twelve years, then removed and now stands 
on the corner of Willow and Stuart avenues where 
it is occupied as a dwelling. It is said that the 
eccentric Lorenzo Dow preached in this church on 
one occasion. A church building was afterwards 
erected by the Methodists on Main street near the 
site of their present church. High street was not 
then opened, and the church sheds extended across 
to the lot now occupied by O. H. Allerton's resi- 
dence. As the sheds became dilapidated those 
living in the vicinity of Mason street found means 
of egress through to Main street, and finally they 
were torn down and the church building itself re- 
moved to Union street, where it is now in use as 
the Village Hall. 

The Presbyterian church society of Newark was 
organized in 1825, and a house of worship built two 
years later on the site of the present church. The 
building was of wood, and the lot on which it stood 

22 



was adorned by a solitary tree, under which the 
neighborhood cows gathered for repose and shelter 
from the midday sun. The present park was set 
oat by Stephen Culver and Clark Mason. Al- 
though Mr. Culver was a lawyer, it is evident that 
he devoted much time to the general improvement 
of the village, for he also laid out Willow avenue 
cemetery, assisted by Fletcher Williams, who gave 
special attention to the selection of the trees. 

The Baptist church society was organized at 
Lockville about 1834. Many years afterward a 
removal and reorganization of the society took 
place, and their present church building on East 
Miller street was erected. 

The first organization of the Christian church 
occurred at Marble town, also in 1834, and thirty 
years afterward a new church society was formed 
here and a. house of worship built. 

The Universalists dedicated their first church in 
October, 1838. It was built of brick, and stood on 
East Miller street near the Northern Central Rail- 
road. 

The Dutch Reformed Church of Arcadia was 
erected in 1842. Solomon Van Auken and Leonard 
L. Whitbeck were members of the building com- 
mittee, and Abram DuBois was one of the Church 
Consistory. 

The German Evangelical Association Church of 
Newark was organized in 1845 with twenty-seven 



23 



members. Many years later a house of worship 
was erected on Miller street. 

In July, 1851, the legal institution of St. Mark's 
Church occurred, and four years later the Roman 
Catholics established their church society with 
about forty members. 



lthough the school system of seventy years 
ago was not as well organized as at present, 
the then citizens of Newark were not at all 
indifferent to the education of their child- 
ren. A schoolhouse was erected at an early date 
by Joseph A. Miller, jast east of Mr. Grant's house 
on East Miller street, and was named Marvin Hall. 
It was two stories in height, the lower floor being 
used for school pnr poses and the upper part for a 
Masonic lodge room. Mrs. Egbert Landon attended 
school there and among her schoolmates were An- 
toinette Bartle, Mary Grant, Daniel and Wellman 
Kenyon, Rodman H. Robinson, uncle of Osman 
Robinson, and Hannah Vanderhoof, now Mrs. 
Crosby of Phelps. 

The building was afterward removed to Main 
street, remodeled, and is still in existence as the 
old store recently vacated by S. B. YanDuser. 
Subsequently, a two-story cobblestone house was 
built on the site occupied by the present Union 
School building, and this served until it made way 
for the wooden building which was the immediate 

24 



predecessor of the present brick structure. There 
was also a schoolhouse in early times at Ninham's 
or Groat's Corners, and in 1844 there were four 
common school districts and buildings within the 
limits of Newark, one being situated near the New 
York Central Railroad station, and the others in 
various parts of the village. 

As for the select schools, if their name was not 
exactly Legion, they were at least numerous enough 
to afford abundant opportunity for the youth of 
that day to be well tutored in deportment and 
polite accomplishments. It is said that there were 
five select schools here at one time. In the Wayne 
Standard of 1840, a gentleman announces that he 
has "opened a Select School for ladies and gentle- 
men in the basement of the Baptist Meeting house 
in Arcadia Village." In addition to the common 
English branches he taught Latin and Greek. 

Miss Sarah Adams Stow, afterwards Mrs. Fred- 
erick Rew, kept a select school in the old Methodist 
church on Main street, now the Village Hall. Miss 
Stow's pupils sat in the pews, and those that be- 
came troublesome were called forward to the front 
seat where they were directly under the eye of the 
teacher. In revival seasons this seat was known as 
the "anxious seat," and one of Miss Stow's old- 
tiine pupils, now a resident of Newark, admits that 
he was a great frequenter of the "anxious seat'' in 
his youthful days. Mrs. Egbert Landon was a 
pupil of Miss Stow. 

25 



In a house west of where Dr. Nutten resides a 
select school was kept by Miss Babcock for many 
years. There are probably many of her pupils still 
living in this vicinity. Another select school for 
girls was kept by the Misses Root and Edson, who 
so far expanded their regulations as to allow the ad- 
mission of a solitary boy. Lyman Sherwood, to their 
ranks. 

There were three hotels in Newark in 1840. 
The American Eagle — "General Stage and Packet- 
boat House'' — kept by Vincent G. Barney, father 
of the late William Barney, occupied the corner 
where Vary & Sleight's bank now stands; the 
Newark House, kept by S. Nichols, was on Canal 
street; and the Newark Exchange, kept by Andrew 
Vanderhoof, stood on the site of the present New- 
ark hotel, only it was much lower, being on a level" 
with the tow path. Previous to the enlargement 
of the canal, there was such a descent in the grade 
of Main street between Miller street and the bridge 
that it afforded a fine place for coasting for the 
boys of that day. At the middle lock in the east 
village was the Clinton House, kept by Jacob 
Whit more. 



The Wayne County Mutual Insurance Company, 
doing business here in 1840, had as its president 
the Hon. William Sisson ; vice president, Henry 

26 



Cronise ; treasurer, Eliab T. Grant ; secretary, Theo- 
dore Partridge and, for its attorney, George H. 
Middleton, an able lawyer. Among the directors 
were Milton S. Brown, Daniel Kenyon, Ashley G. 
Danielson and Abram Fairchild. 

Judge Middleton lived in the house now the 
home of Osman Robinson. Milton S. Brown car- 
ried on a shoe factory in the Courier building, em- 
ploying a number of men. 



A 



t an early date Luther P. Hutchinson set op 
a livery stable here and ran a line of stages 
to Geneva, carrying the mail. In 1841 
William Payne was associated with him. 
Luther Finley, who has been connected with the 
stage business in this village since boyhood, came 
to Newark sixty-nine years ago, his home on the 
Stebbins farm having been broken up by the death 
of both his parents in the same day of smallpox. 
When sixteen years of age he drove a stage from 
here to Geneva, carrying mail and express packages. 
The stage was drawn by four horses and its arrival, 
often filled with passengers, was the event of the 
day. 

On the completion of the railroad from Rochester 
to Auburn, Phelps became the southern terminus 
of Newark's mail route, and though this lessening 
of the distance was a great gain, at times the trans- 
portation of the mail was still a difficult matter, for 

27 



one great disadvantage with which the early settlers 
of this locality contended was bad roads. Ob- 
structed in many places by the roots of forest trees, 
they were rough at all times and, in bad weather, 
nearly impassable, the traveler's vehicle often sink- 
ing to its hubs in the mud. One of the old resi- 
dents recalls the time when, in company with other 
young fellows, he accompanied the stage driver to 
assist in shoveling snow, and the trip to Phelps and 
return occupied the entire day. 

Mr. Finley ran the first omnibus to the New 
York Central station, and has preserved his first 
mail contract, dated 1853, in which he agreed to 
carry the mail eighteen times a week for the sum 
of $150 a year. 



mono the old houses in Newark is a yellow 
building now standing on Stuart avenue, 
which formerly stood near the home of 
Mrs. Lydia Sherman, and was the farm- 
house of David Bostwick. The house on Willow 
avenue recently sold by Mrs. Cozzens is an old 
house, once the home of Sheriff Hudson. On the 
corner north of Harry Miller's in early times stood 
an inn kept by Orrin Aldrich, and in the field back 
of the house were held the "General Trainings." 
The house on the east side of Willow avenue, just 
south of the West Shore tracks was, soon after it 
was built, the home of Aaron Ford, the father-in - 

28 




Farmhouse of James P. Bartle 

Built about 1836 



law of Fletcher Williams. Mrs. Hankenson and 
Mrs. Egbert Landon recall attending a large recep- 
tion there, given in honor of Mr. Williams' first 
marriage. This house continued to be the home of 
Mr. Williams for several years, and was the birth- 
place of his son Ford and Mrs. Battershall. The 
house in which E. T. Grant resides was built at an 
early period and was the home of James P. Bartle. 
Andrew C. Bartle and one of his older sisters were 
born there. Mr. Bartle afterward built the sub- 
stantial old mansion on West Miller street, now the 
home of Marion Moore. When the Masonic order 
had fallen into general disgrace on account of the 
Morgan affair, and Masons dared not go openly to 
their meetings, Mr. Bartle finished off two rooms 
in his attic for their accommodation. Sixteen, who 
remained faithful to the order, came across the 
fields under cover of the darkness and there held 
their meetings. Mr. Bartle was Master of the 
lodge and Almerin Dunwell, the father of Judge 
Dunwell, was the tyler. 

The house removed a few years ago from the 
corner adjacent to Mr. Pitts 1 residence, and placed 
farther west on the same street, is an old house and 
was, after his marriage, the home of Stephen K. 
Williams. Mr. Williams subsequently purchased 
the house by the West Shore tracks of his brother 
Fletcher. The house in which Dr. Nutten resides 
was built by Stephen Culver in 1842, who there 
brought home his bride. The original part of Dr. 



29 



Thatcher's house was built by Mr. Bristol, and was 
for several years a boarding house kept by Mrs. 
Bristol. 




[ewark celebrated the 4th of July, 1838, by 
a parade in which twenty-six young ladies 
represented the different States of the 
Union. The girls were dressed in white, 
with red and blue sashes, and were placed on seats 
arranged in circular form in a large wagon, the 
Goddess of Liberty being perched high in the center 
of the group. Mrs. J. P. Hankenson, then Miss 
Goodwin, was one of the company, as was also 
Mrs. Lydia Sherman. 

A printed invitation to a "Rural Tea Party" to 
be held on July 4th, 1839, at 3 p. m., " in com- 
memoration of our National Independence" is now 
in the possession of Mrs. J. W. Hankenson. The 
tea party was held at the "Pavilion" which, ac- 
cording to Mrs. Lydia Sherman's recollection, was 
an impromptu name given, for the occasion, to the 
new sheds adjacent to the Presbyterian church, 
which had just been erected and had not then been 
used. These were trimmed with evergreens and 
made as attractive as possible and there the tea 
party was held. Mesdames E. T. Grant, J. D. 
Ford and L. Sutherland were among the ladies on 
the committee of arraugements. 

30 



Another invitation dated Feb. 21st, 1840, an- 
nounces that a ball will be given at Mr. Barney's 
hotel "to commemorate the Day that gave birth to 
the Illustrious Father of our Country," and the 
hour set for the assembling of the guests is four 
o'clock in the afternoon. Truly, if the boys and 
girls of those days began dancing at that hour and 
kept it up till morning they must have had robust 
physiques. But it is presumable that they dis- 
persed at an early hour. Among the names of the 
managers of the ball appear those of C. C. Hyde, 
John Price, H. H. Morse, H. L. Fish, L. L. Rose 
and James Van Deusen. Mrs. Lydia Sherman at- 
tended the ball. 

letter written to the Newark Union long 



A 



ago, by Nathan W. Taylor, gives an inter 
esting account of a lecture delivered in the 
old Presbyterian church about 1843 by the 
great temperance orator, John B. Gough. An ad- 
mission fee of ten cents was collected at the door 
and, though many had said they wouldn't give ten 
cents to hear Gough, for they didn't believe he was 
much of a lecturer, when the night came the church 
was packed to the doors. "Then wagons were 
drawn up beside the windows and filled with peo- 
ple eager to hear. ' ' Mr. Gough spoke for over two 
hours, and his hearers were so impressed by his 
eloquence that nearly all in the house and some of 
those outside signed the pledge. 

31 



Afterwards, some young ladies and gentlemen of 
the village planned a present to be given M<r. Gough 
on the occasion of a second lecture which he was to 
give here. The present was a quilt called the 
"Star Temperance Quilt," with the names of the 
donors written on it in indelible ink. It was con- 
sidered a beautiful piece of work, but something 
prevented Mr. Gough from coming again and he 
never received the quilt. It was afterwards pur- 
chased by Mrs. Ruel Taylor and is probably in the 
possession of some of her relatives today. 

udging from the columns of the Wayne 
Standard, political excitement ran high in 
the year 1838. Under the heading of 
' 'Democratic Whig Nominations, ' ' William 
H. Seward is named for governor and Luther Bra- 
dish for lieutenant-governor. It is significant of 
the times to note that the news of these nomina- 
tions was received by the editor of the Standard 
from a gentleman "who came up in last evening's 
Packet." A column quoted from the New York 
Weekly Whig seeks to enlighten a "locofoco" by 
giving him a few ideas of what the Whigs want 
and what they do not w r ant. 

It is evident from the tone of this article that- 
whatever other rights the Whigs may have been 
deprived of, they still indulged in the liberty of 
free speech. We quote the following : "We want 
the currency of the country left to regulate itself 

32 








without being destroyed by an avaricious President. 
We do not want a national debt. We do not want 
the President to spend sixty millions a year when 
John Quincy Adams did not spend thirteen mil- 
lions. We do not want a villainous sub-treasury 
where every knave can thrust his hand into the 
crib, and fill his pockets without being questioned. 
We do not want the President's son to be figuring 
in England among Princes, for the express purpose 
of renewing the old tie between this country and 
Great Britain, by a marriage with Queen Victoria." 

Martin Van Buren was president at the time this 
indignant exhortation was delivered and it was his 
son John, nicknamed "Prince John,'' because of 
his figure, his manners, and his liking for royal 
society, to whom allusion is made. However at- 
tractive Prince John may have been in the heyday 
of his prime, there could never have been much 
danger of his being chosen by the young Queen of 
Great Britain for her husband, and it was probably 
as political capital this paragraph was written by 
its wily author. 

A novel advertisement in the Wayne Standard is 
that of Mr. J. Mcintosh, "Sword Master," who 
announces that he will give "a course of studies in 
the use of the Sword and other Military exercises 
in the village of Newark" and that he also gives 
lessons in the Mezzotint style of Painting. Of the 
latter "Specimens can be seen at Barney's Hotel 
which challenge competition." 

33 




I 



t is amusing, in these days of rapid and 
luxurious travel, to note an advertisement 
in the Wayne Standard of 1840 which im- 
presses upon the traveling public the un- 
rivalled advantages of the "Telegraph and Swiftsure 
Coach and Railroad Lines" as a means of transx^or- 
tation between Buffalo and New York. It is 
adorned by a picture of a coach filled with people, 
drawn by flying roadsters whose feet scarcely touch 
the ground, and promises the traveler who journeys 
by it that he shall arrive in New York "twelve 
hours in advance of any other route." 

The Swiftsure coach was scheduled to leave Buf- 
falo at 8 a. m., arriving at Batavia in time for a 3 
p. m. train to Rochester which was reached at 5 p. 
M. A train left Rochester at 6 p. m., arriving in 
Auburn in time for a morning train to Albany, 
which the traveler was supposed to reach in time to 
take the 8 o'clock evening boat down the river, 
arriving in New York the next morning. Total 
time from Buffalo to New York, 46 hours. 

If the reader is inclined to smile at the term 
"Swiftsure," and think that the term "slowcoach" 
would have been a better title for this ancient vehicle, 
let us all believe that the last syllable was probably 
a faithful appellation, the importance of which, 
as applied to means of transportation, might well 
receive more consideration at the present day. 

Previous to the completion of the direct line of 
the New York Central Railroad in 1854, most of 

34 



the travel through this section of country was by 
the Erie canal. Packet boats, as they were called, 
afforded comfortable accommodations for the trav- 
eling public, and were well patronized by those 
journeying between Albany and Buffalo, as well as 
those who were bound on shorter trips. The Packet 
carried no freight except the personal baggage of 
its passengers. Its long, narrow cabin, occupying 
nearly its entire length, was used as a dining and 
sitting room by day and was converted into a sleep- 
ing room at night, Often the number of passengers 
was far in excess of the number of berths, and then 
beds were made on the floor, the occupants of 
which were obliged to rise somewhat earlier in the 
morning so as not to interfere with the serving of 
breakfast. But if the lodgings were not quite all 
that critical persons might desire, the table was 
good, the quality of the food being the best ob- 
tainable and the cooking excellent. How the cook 
contrived in the narrow quarters allotted to him to 
set such excellent meals before the numerous guests 
seems puzzling indeed ! 

And then there was a very pleasant social side to 
this mode of travel ! People who took the boat at 
Albany strangers to each other, if they were through 
passengers, had abundant time to make each other's 
acquaintance and, possibly, in some cases, perma- 
nent friendships may have resulted from such 
chance meetings. And who knows but that ro- 
mantic attachments may have been formed, which 

35 



changed the whole course of the future years for 
some who met as strangers with no thought of 
what fate had in store for them? Sometimes there 
were musicians on board, either amateurs or pro- 
fessionals, and then the time was enlivened by 
music. Aud there was always the landscape on 
either side, constantly varying as the boat passed 
along on its journey from one village to another, at 
times the canal cleaving its way through thick 
forests and again bordered by cultivated farms. 

The Packet was drawn by three horses, harnessed 
tandem, their heads adorned with tassels, and the 
rate of speed achieved was about five miles an hour. 
Its approach to a village was announced by a long, 
loud blast on a horn blown by one of the packet 
hands, the horses were put to their best speed, the 
passengers gathered on deck if the weather were 
fine, and the boat drew up to the dock with a grand 
flourish, greeted by the admiring gaze of the vil- 
lagers, both old and young, who had collected to 
enjoy the sight. Other boats, carrying both pas- 
sengers and freight, were called line boats, and 
often transported emigrants, moving with all "their 
goods and chattels" to find new homes in the West. 

The villagers also often took trips on the line 
boats. Mr. J. G. Pitts recalls such a trip which he 
took many years ago, and found most delightful on 
account of the agreeable society of his fellow trav- 
elers. Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Hankenson took their 
wedding trip on the canal. 

36 



Teie life of today is so hurried, and so full of 
restless striving for financial success, that 
but little thought is given to the events of 
a hundred years ago. But the men and 
women who left the older settlements of the East, 
to make for themselves and their descendants new 
homes in the wilds of Western New York, are 
worthy of being remembered. 

Surrounded by dense forests and treacherous 
savages, they had none of the modern facilities of 
communication with even the primitive civilization 
they had left behind. With but scanty resources 
they conquered unnumbered difficulties, and laid 
the foundations of the prosperity we now enjoy. 
They were brave-hearted men and women, worthy 
to found a State, and they "builded better than 
they knew." We, who are enjoying the luxuries 
of the 20th century, cannot appreciate the priva- 
tions they endured, and can never repay the debt 
we owe them, but let us not forget to accord them 
the honest praise their heroism deserves. 



ft Hall Genturu of St. Mark's 

1851-1901 



"The Wine of Life keeps oozing drop by drop, 
The Leaves of Life keep falling one by one.'''' 

— Bubaiyat, 



ft Half 6entury of St. Mark's Parish 



SS 



Many and varied are the changes wrought by 
fifty years. Not the least impressive 
among them is the fact that most of those 
who, at the beginning of the half century, 
were mature actors on the stage of life, long before 
its closing year is rounded out have finished their 
labors and gone over to join the great majority. 

Although the busy hands which wrought so 
willingly have turned to dust, and the zealous 
hearts which glowed with high purposes are stilled 
forever, the true and earnest work which they have 
done remains ; and it becomes an interesting and 
sacred duty for us who have entered into their 
labors, and who enjoy the fruits of them, to gather 
up the records of their work and preserve them, as 
far as may be, for the instruction and encourage- 
ment of those who have succeeded to their places. 
In respect to the subject of this sketch it is 
peculiarly fitting that this should be done in this 
year of Grace, 1901, for the time draws near when 
the church where, for so many years, the members 

41 



of St. Mark's parish have worshipped is to be given 
np for a new and more commodious structure. 

Built fifty years ago by the pioneers of the Pro- 
testant Episcopal form of worship in this village, 
this little church was reared with such effort and 
self-sacrifice as we in this day can scarcely appre- 
ciate. To the few now remaining of that early 
company, and to others since gathered within its 
walls, it has become very precious through suc- 
cessive years and, though now falling to decay, it 
is hallowed by a multitude of tender and time- 
honored associations which can never be trans- 
planted to a newer edifice. 

Here, for five decades, faithful ministers have 
proclaimed the Gospel of Christ, and administered 
the sacraments of the Church to a believing people. 
To the same font where they were baptized in 
infancy, mothers have brought their children to 
receive the precious ordinance, and at the altar 
where their fathers and mothers knelt for confirma- 
tion the sons and daughters have bowed their heads 
to receive the bishop's hands. Before its altar the 
bride has taken upon herself the solemn obligations 
of a wife, and in the shadow of its chancel the 
precious dead have lain while over them has been 
spoken the grand old message, breathing of hope 
and immortality, which throughout the ages has 
comforted the hearts of the bereaved. 

As the ivy outlasts the ruin which it beautifies, 
so may the precious associations which cluster 

42 



around the little church of St. Mark's live in the 
memories of its people long after they have ceased 
to gather within its walls. 



^t^fcU^J^ 



On the 22nd day of July, 1851, a few persons 
assembled at the house of the Hon. Esbon 
Blackmar on Palmyra street — from 1859 
until his death four years ago the home of 
Orrin Blackmar — and, with the advice of the Rev. 
Dr. Bissell of Geneva, afterward Bishop of Ver- 
mont, and the consent of the Right Rev. W. H. 
DeLancey, Bishop of Western New York, pro- 
ceeded to a legal organization of St. Mark's Church, 
Newark. The following persons were elected 
officers : 

Wardens, Thomas Davis and Ebenezer Cressey. 
• Vestrymen, Esbon Blackmar, Fletcher Williams, 
George Parkins, David Mandeville, John Daggett, 
Clark Mason, A. W. Marsh, Joel H. Prescott. 

Mr. Prescott, to whom the writer is indebted for 
much of the information contained in this sketch, 
is the only surviving member of that company.* 
He is now in his eighty-seventh year and, on the 
31st of July, completed a term of fifty years as 
vestryman and warden of St. Mark's Church. 

For a few years previous to this organization 
Episcopal clergymen had held occasional services 
here, sometimes in the stone schoolhouse, which 

*Mr. Prescott has passed away since this sketch was written. 

43 



stood on the site now occupied by the Union 
School, and sometimes in the old M. E. Church, 
loaned them during the pastorate of the Rev. Jona- 
than Watts, to whom the Episcopalians were in- 
debted for many kindnesses. These services were 
mostly rendered by the Rev. Mr. Spaulding and the 
Rev. T. F. Ward well, the latter when rector of Grace 
Church, Lyons. Both are long since deceased. 

On December 1st, 1849, Bishop DeLancey con- 
firmed Mrs. Susan A. Parkins and Miss Minerva L. 
Clark in the old M. E. Church in this village, and 
the next day the following persons were confirmed 
in Lyons : Joel H. Prescott, Mrs. Sarah A. Pres- 
cott, Mrs. Martha M. Hayes, Mrs. Emeline Mason, 
Mrs. Arabella Blackmar, Miss Lucy L. Williams, 
Miss Hannah Davis Lusk and George Parkins. Mr. 
and Mrs. Fletcher Williams had been confirmed in 
Lyons in the preceding April, as had also the 
Misses Jane and Lucy Blackmar. 

The churchwomen had organized a sewing society 
previous to the meeting at Esbon Blackmar' s, and 
the substantial aid which they rendered toward 
building the church is gratefully acknowledged in 
the old records. Sewing machines were not general 
in those days, and the variety of articles which 
they made were all done by hand. They worked 
to such good purpose that they were able to head 
the subscription list with the sum of $150. After- 
wards they furnished cushions and carpets for the 
church and bought an organ, the same now in 

44 



use, for which they paid $450. The cushions they 
made themselves. The first president of the sewing 
society was Mrs. Richard P. Williams; vice-pres., 
Mrs. E. Z. Morse; sec, Jane A. Blackmar; treas., 
Mrs. Esbon C. Blackmar ; directresses, Mrs. Palmer 
and Mrs. Hayes. The first meeting of the society 
was held in the house on the east side of Willow 
avenue just south of the West Shore tracks. It 
was then owned by Mr. Ford, father of the first 
Mrs. Fletcher Williams, with whom Mr. and Mrs. 
Williams were living at the time. In the old 
records of the society there are many meetings 
noted as having been held at the homes of Mrs. 
Hayes and Mrs. Hankenson, beginning as far back 
as 1852. 

Mrs. Esbon Blackmar. Miss Elizabeth Palmer, 
Mrs. John Sutherland, Mrs. Finley, Mrs. Andrew 
Bartle, Miss Susie Sutherland and many others, 
most of whom have passed away, were evidently 
active members of the society in those early days. 
Their meetings were generally held weekly and 
supper was served, at which the gentlemen of the 
church were often present, and for which they paid 
ten cents each. 

The lot on which the church now stands was 
purchased of Fletcher Williams for the sum of 
$350 and, on the 15th day of August, 1851, a con- 
tract was made with George Parkins to build the 
church according to plans and specifications fur- 
nished by Messrs. Upjohn & Co., architects of New 

45 



York City. The building committee consisted of 
Esbon Blackmar, Fletcher Williams and Joel H. 
Prescott. The contract price for the building when 
completed, exclusive of the sash, glass and spire — 
which latter was let to Fletcher Williams for the 
sum of $200 — was $1,775. As is often the case, this 
estimate proved very inaccurate, the total cost of 
the structure when completed, including the lot, 
amounting to $3,174.27. Mr. Parkins and his 
workmen were finally paid in full, however, the 
church assuming the additional burden. A bell 
was also placed in the church at a cost of $300. 

Having raised all the money they could in this 
vicinity, and finding the sum in hand insufficient 
for their needs, the pioneers of St. Mark's Church 
cast about for ways of adding to their funds, with 
the result that Mrs. Dr. Marsh and Mrs. Martha M. 
Hayes were deputized to call upon Episcopal 
churches in eastern cities for aid. Furnished with 
letters from Bishop DeLancey and the Rev. Mr. 
Ward well, these ladies set out, stopping in the 
large cities between here and New York and mak- 
ing their final appeal to Trinity Church in the latter 
city. In nearly every place where they solicited 
assistance they were kindly received and hospitably 
entertained. The one notable exception to this 
treatment was the reception accorded them by the 
rector of a large and wealthy church in New York, 
who kept them standing outside his door while he 
refused aid or encouragement of any kind. At the 

46 



end of three weeks they returned, weary and travel- 
worn but bearing good news. Trinity Church in 
New York offered a loan, in reality a gift, of 
$500 to be secured by bond and mortgage on the 
church premises. 

From other sources small gifts were obtained and, 
to a people straggling with financial problems and 
burdened with heavy obligations, everything was 
welcome. The gift of four lamps, a stove and pipe, 
by Trinity Church, Utica, is noted in the record 
with grateful acknowledgments. Whether this 
charitable stove continued to warm St. Mark's 
parishioners for twenty years the record sayeth not, 
but no change in the manner of heating is noted 
until 1871 when it is recorded that a furnace was 
procured. 

The corner stone of St. Mark's Church was laid 
October 22nd, 1851, but, owing to the unfavorable 
weather, the building was not completed and in a 
condition to use until late in the summer of 1852. 
Although then substantially complete it was not as 
large as at present, the front elevation being even 
with the tower, and there being no organ transex)t. 
The Rev. Charles Welles Hayes, the first rector, 
came to Newark, "a deacon of two months' stand- 
ing," and held the first service in the little church, 
Sunday, September 19th. To quote from his in- 
teresting letter written in 1877, narrating his remi- 
niscences of those times, "On that day, and for 
some little time after, it was without an organ or 

47 



any other instrument of music, without carpets or 
cushions, even the chancel floor being bare. But 
it was very beautiful in the eyes of those who be- 
gan that day within its walls the Church's never 
ceasing sacrifice of prayer and praise." Con- 
tinuing he says : "I think these first services were, 
in one respect, a beginning which, as far as I know, 
has been carried on in the whole history of the 
parish ; a beginning, I mean, of more care, pro- 
priety and reverence in the worship of Almighty 
God than was common in our parishes, even in 
Western New York, twenty-five years ago. I can 
take no credit to myself for this, for such a begin- 
ning could not have been made except with a people 
who were ready and anxious to do their best — to 
learn all they could of the true principles of wor- 
ship and who, as churchmen, had no bad habits to 
unlearn.- ' 

The Sunday following two infants were baptized — 
one the son of the builder, Mr. Parkins, and the 
other a daughter of the sexton, Charles Duffin. 
For this baptism Mr. Williams provided a font — a 
large tazza or ornamental cup of Italian marble, its 
brim encircled by grape leaves. A Philadelphia 
church paper, remarking on the description of the 
church at its consecration, severely criticized the 
font, in ignorance, of course, that it was not made 
for a font. The critic "could not see the symbo- 
lism of the grape leaves." Mr. Hayes adds : "nor 
in fact could we, but we were glad enough to have 

48 



anything at all seemly, instead of the pewter basin 
then not uncommon/' This font was accidentally 
broken a few months afterward and replaced by the 
one now in use, also Mr. Williams' gift. 

On October 3rd a Sunday School was organized 
with about twenty-live children. The first teachers 
were Joel H. Prescott, Fletcher Williams, Miss 
Lucy Williams and Miss Lucy Blackmar. At the 
first celebration of the Lord's Supper there were 
present sixteen communicants out of twenty-one, 
mostly officers of the church and their wives. 
Among those soon after added were Mrs. Bartle, 
Mrs. E. Z. Morse, Mrs. Krum, and Mrs. Palmer. 

On Holy Innocents' Day, December 28th, 1852, 
St. Mark's Church was consecrated by Bishop De- 
Lancey. The following description of that event is 
taken from Mr. Hayes' letter : "How beautiful the 
church looked to us that morning, when all things 
were made ready for the feast, some few of you will 
remember perhaps as well as I. Certainly no pains 
were spared, with such means as we had, to make 
it beautiful. The clergy, thirteen in all, met and 
robed in my study (over the Bank) and thence pro- 
ceeded across the churchyard, under umbrellas, in 
a driving storm of wind and rain, to the tower door 
where we were met by the wardens and vestrymen. 
Before the last of us had reached the outer arch- 
way we heard the rich full tones of Bishop DeLan- 
cey's voice — who that ever heard that voice can 

49 



ever forget it? — in the opening words of the sub- 
lime psalm : 

'The earth is the Lord's and all that therein is: 

The compass of the world, and they that dwell therein.' 

and the full voices of priests and people responding, 

'For He hath founded it upon the seas and prepared it 
upon the floods. ' 

I remember well how it seemed to me, as the 
white-robed procession swept along the nave, paus- 
ing now and then at each response in the psalm, 
like a triumphal march. And such indeed it was, 
more truly perhaps than any of us realized — the 
triumph of the Lord of Hosts, the King of Glory 
come to take up His resting place, to dwell in His 
temple forever. The bishop's sermon was that 
which he had written and preached at the grand 
commemoration in Dr. Hook's parish church of 
Leeds, England, the preceding summer, from the 
words of the Psalmist : '0 hearken Thou unto the 
voice of my calling, my King and my God ; for 
unto Thee will I make my prayer.' It was on 
prayer and the prayer-book." In the evening Miss 
Esther Hudson and Mrs. E. Z. Morse were confirmed. 

Three of the clergymen present at that consecra- 
tion were afterward made bishops : Dr. Bissell, then 
rector of Trinity Church, Geneva, became Bishop 
of Vermont ; Mr. Neely became Bishop of Maine ; 
and the Reverend Mr. Gillespie, then rector of 
Zion church, Palmyra, was made Bishop of West- 
ern Michigan. 

50 



The first marriage in St. Mark's Church occurred 
January 2nd, 1853, the contracting parties being- 
Mr. S. S. Morley and Miss Lucy Fletcher Williams, 
sister of Fletcher and Stephen K. Williams. On 
August eleventh of the sanre year, a funeral service 
was held in the church in commemoration of the 
death of a parishioner in California. The church 
was crowded, a full delegation of some order — 
either Odd Fellows or Masons — being present. 
Most of the audience were entire strangers to the 
church, and the Rev. Mr. Hayes, who preached a 
special sermon on the occasion, notes a rather 
amusing incident which occurred in that connec- 
tion . One of his hearers said something to another 
at the close of the service in commendation of the 
sermon. "Yes, it was very fair" or "very good" 
was the reply, "but that is no credit to him, you 
know the bishop writes all his sermons." The 
reverend gentleman adds, "A happy state of things 
for the deacon, if not for the bishop, if it could 
only have been true!" 

On Christmas eve, 1855, at the rectory, St. Mark's 
Sunday School held its first festival, the object of 
special interest being a Christmas tree, the first 
exhibited on such an occasion in Newark. The 
Rev. Mr. Homer was rector at the time. 

In 1863 the church was enlarged to its present 
size by extending its front Y2\ feet to the south, and 
adding an organ transept and other improvements. 
The entire cost, amounting to nearly $3,000, was 

51 



borne by Fletcher Williams, whose efforts in behalf 
of the church from its foundation had been abund- 
ant and unwearied. The carving of the altar and 
reredos is the work of his hands, as are also the 
altar candlesticks. The decoration of the interior 
by the Rev. Mr. Darby, at Mr. Williams' expense 
and under his supervision, was an additional ex- 
pression of his generosity. 

The first rectory owned by St. Mark's Church 
was purchased in 1863 of James H. Kipp for the sum 
of $875. It is No. 12, corner of Mason and Frank- 
lin streets, and is now owned and occupied by Mr. 
Coyle. It was sold for 81,200 six years later, and 
the house and lot on Main street, then owned by 
the Rev. Mr. Shumway, were purchased at an ex- 
pense of 83,000. This building served as a home 
for the rectors of St. Mark's Church for twenty 
years but, at the end of that time, being found un- 
suitable for further occupancy without extensive 
repairs, it was decided to build anew. At a meeting 
of the vestry held June 17, 1889, in Mr. Prescott's 
office, a committee of ladies was present by request, 
and Mrs. Fletcher W r illiams reported that they had 
secured by subscription $640, and had on hand 
other funds amounting in all to about $1,900. A 
building committee was appointed, consisting of 
Messrs. Fletcher Williams, Charles W. Stuart and 
Spencer S. Eames. The latter however declined to 
serve and Mr. B. C. Williams was appointed in his 
stead. 

52 



The old building was sold for the sum of $240 
and removed, and the new rectory erected on the 
same lot. The whole expense of the latter includ 
ing grading and other incidentals was $2,761.54, 
and it is recorded on December 31st, 1892, that the 
entire indebtedness had been discharged. A fair 
held by the ladies in the Opera House during the 
same month netted about $222, and this sum, with 
a small additional amount, made the last payment, 
St. Agnes' Guild furnished the furnace for the new 
rectory. 

In the summer of 1895 the interior of the church 
was newly decorated, and in June, a class being 
ready for confirmation and the church unfit for 
occupancy, Bishop Coxe administered the ordinance 
in the Presbyterian church, permission having been 
€ordially granted by the Rev. Dr. Burgess and the 
trustees of that church. 

Solemn and impressive as was the occasion, it 
would have been still more so, had we then known 
it would be the last time that the venerable bishop 
would administer confirmation in this parish. For 
thirty years, as bishop of this diocese, his striking 
personality and fine presence had been familiar to 
this people, and his earnest and vigorous sermons 
had presented to them a high standard of Christian 
character. Before another confirmation took place 
here he had finished his earthly labors. 

When it was decided early in the present year 
to build a new church, the rectory was offered for 

53 




sale with the result that it was purchased by 
Charles L. Crothers for $4,600 and this sum, together 
with that received from the sale of the old church 
($2,500), has been applied toward the payment of the 
new and handsome structure which adorns the cor- 
ner of Main and Williams streets, and which is to 
be the home for many prosperous years, we trust, 
of the members of St. Mark's parish. 

[t seems not inappropriate, in concluding 
this little sketch, to add a few items of in- 
terest relating to those who, by their long 
and faithful service in the interest of St. 
Mark's Church, surely merit this brief notice. 

Out of the twenty- one original communicants but 
two are now living, Joel H. Prescott* and Mrs. 
Martha M. Hayes. Mr. Prescott was sent as dele- 
gate to the first convention in which this parish was 
represented, and which was held in Syracuse July 
31st, 1851. 

In the list of vestrymen as far back as 1856 appear 
the names of Esbon Blackmar, Hiram Clark, Sylva- 
nus Krum, John A. Sutherland and Isaac G. Bron- 
son ; and two years later those of Dighton H. Win- 
ans and Edward W. Hayes. Samuel E. Hudson 
was then senior warden. Mr. Krum, who has passed 
way since this sketch was begun, at the ripe age 
of 88, was a member of the vestry for more than 
twenty years. 

*Mr. Prescott died Feb. 25, 1902. 

54 



Spencer S. Eames was elected vestryman in 181)5, 
and served continuously in that capacity and as 
junior warden until his death in 1897. For eight- 
een years he was superintendent of the Sunday 
School. 

Miss Helen Prescott was appointed clerk of the 
vestry in 1885, and for several succeeding years 
served either as clerk, assistant treasurer or treas- 
urer, until compelled by failing health to relinquish 
the duties which she discharged with such fidelity 
and ability. 

The first organist of St. Mark's Church was Mrs. 
Warren Bartle, a lady of fine musical attainments, 
who served in that capacity for fifteen years. Later, 
Mrs. S. S. Eames served as organist for eight years. 

A printed slip in the old journal of the vestry 
conveys the acknowledgments of the officers of the 
church to Leonard S. Pratt, for his faithful and 
long-continued work in conducting the musical part 
of the church service. This testimonial was called 
forth by Mr. Pratt's removal from Newark in 1875. 

Later, Rollin E. Morse rendered valuable service 
in connection with the choir for more than a quarter 
of a century. Those who listened Sabbath after 
Sabbath to his rich and mellow voice will always 
recall it as a pleasant memory. Mr. Morse was also 
a member of the vestry for many years. 

Mrs. Augustus Donk has been leading soprano in 
the choir for nearly twenty-five years, and by her 

55 



superior musical attainments lias contributed 
greatly to its success. 

Thus far the longest term of service filled by any 
rector in this parish since its organization, was that 
of the Rev. J. E. Goodhue, which lasted eight years. 
At the end of this period he was compelled to resign 
his office on account of failing health. Those who 
were present when he bade farewell to his congre- 
gation will recall a most pathetic scene. Too feeble 
to occupy the pulpit, he was seated in a chair placed 
in the center of the chancel, and there he said his last 
words to his parishioners as their faithful minister. 
He passed away in March, 1895. 

Within the past few years St. Mark's Church has 
suffered severely in the loss by death of some of its 
most useful and respected members : Fletcher Wil- 
liams, Mr. Eames, Mr. Morse and Mr. Prescott 
have passed away, and three devoted churchwomen 
of most lovely character, Mrs. Adams and the Misses 
Helen and Sarah Prescott, have also died. These 
vacant places cannot easily be filled, but the remem- 
brance of their faithful service and unselfish de- 
votion should be precious fore verm ore to those who 
remain. True it is that 

"The memory of the just 
Smells sweet and blossoms in the dust." 



56 



MEMORIALS IN ST. MARK'S GttURGA 



Window to Bishop DeLancey, given by the 
Sunday School. 

Window to Mrs. Sarah A. Prescott, by Joel H, 
Prescott. 

Window to Charles Rose Williams, by his New 
ark friends. 

Silver Chalice to Mrs, Ann Eliza Ford Williams, 
by her daughter, Mrs. Anna Battershall. 

A Silver Paten made from silver spoons and coins 
contributed by ladies of the parish, among whom 
were Mrs. Adams and Mrs. Eames, was also dedi- 
cated to Mrs. Williams. 

Litany Desk to the Rev. J. E, Goodhue, by the 
ladies of the parish. 

Vases to Bishop Coxe, by the Sunday School. 

A set of white hangings for pulpit and lectern. 
given by Mrs. Eames, in memory of her daughter. 
Louise Eames. 

Book Mark, by Mrs. Adams. 



Among other gifts, not memorials, is a complete 
set of hangings given by Mrs. Augustus Donk, and 
an Alms Basin, given by Peter Kemper, Jr. 

57 



Some silver spoons given by Mrs. Andrew Bartle in 
1872 were used in the making of a visitation set of 
communion i>late. The Prayer Book and Bible 
originally used in St. Mark's Church were given 
by A. D. Polhamus of Lyons. Mrs. Lucy L. 
Williams gave the first communion set. Subse- 
quently, in 1866, the gift of a communion service 
by J. Moreau Smith, then of Albany, N. Y., form- 
erly a vestryman of St. Mark's Church, is thank- 
fully acknowledged in the old journal. 



58 



List o! Subscribers to Building Fund of St 
Mark's Giiurcii, Februaru, 1851. 



Ladies' Sewing Society . $ 150 00 

Fletcher Williams . . 300 00 

Esbon Blackmar 300 00 

David Mandeville . . 50 00 

Joel H. Prescott . . 50 00 

Clark Mason ... . 25 00 

George Parkins . . 25 00 

John Daggett ... 25 00 

B. F. Rynders 25 00 

William 0. Hayes . 25 00 

A. W. Marsh . 10 00 

Miss Lucy L. Williams . . , 25 00 

Solon Taylor .... 10 00 

Mrs. Sophia B. Stone 25 00 

E. Z. Morse ... 25 00 

Ebenezer Cressey . . 20 00 

Hiram Clark 5 00 

Stephen W. Russell . 5 00 

E. H. Rockwood 25 00 

H. Prescott . . 10 00 

Peter McGregor . 5 00 

Theodore Dickinson . 10 00 

59 



C. Baffin , . 6 00 

John Sisson ..... 3 00 

E. Dickinson . ... 5 00 

C. G. Pomeroy 15 00 

E. T. Grant . . . . . 25 00 

J. P. Bartle . . . . . 25 00 

M. S. Brown .... 25 00 

Z. N. Landon . . 5 00 

George Patterson ... 5 00 

Mrs. Sophia Blackmar . . . . 10 00 

George C. Mills . . 2 00 

Charles Cull 15 00 

William C. Carpenter . . 2 00 

Eli Nokes . 2 00 

H. C. Gardner . . 5 00 

From Lyons . . . . 17 25 

John Harris 2 00 

Ruel Taylor 5 00 

Albert Aldrich ... . 3 00 

Stephen Aldrich .... 5 00 

A. Vanderhoof . 5 00 
Several of the above subscriptions were materially 
increased later as necessity demanded. 



60 



List, of Rectors with Terms of Service 



Rev. 


Charles W. Hayes 


. 1852-1854 


Rev. 


Charles W. Homer 


1854-185? 


Rev. 


William C. Gorham 


1857-1859 


Rev. 


John H. Rowling 


1859-1862 


Rev. 


P. Teller Babbitt 


. 1862-1867 


Rev. 


W. J. Piggott 


1868-1870 


Rev. 


John Leach 


. 1870 


Rev. 


D. A. Bonnar 


1871-1874 


Rev. 


J. S. Seibold . 


. 1874-1878 


Rev. 


J. P. Foster 


1878-1881 


Rev. 


E. H. Edson . 


. 1881-1885 


Rev. 


J. E. Goodhue 


1885-1893 


Rev. 


Louis B. VanDyck . 


. 1893-1895 


Rev. 


Alfred Brittain 


1895- 



61 



TflE NEW CHURCH 



The new church on the corner of Main and 
Williams streets is not only a practical ex- 
ponent of the courage and faith of those 
who erected it, but it is also typical of the 
growth of Newark and the progressive spirit of its 
citizens. To undertake such a work with the slender 
resources at command, seemed indeed a serious 
matter to the handful of people who must assume 
the responsibility, but, after carefully weighing 
the project in all its aspects, it was decided to go 
forward, and the result thus far has justified such 
decision. 

In May, 1901, ground was broken for the new 
edifice, on the 17th of June the corner stone was 
laid by the Bight Rev. W, D. Walker, Bishop of 
Western New York, and on the 25th of November 
following, Bishop Walker set apart the building 
as a house of worship. The dedicatory sermon was 
preached by the Rev. Mr. Towsonof Palmyra. On 
the previous evening the bishop preached from the 
text. 4k Thou hast been faithful over a few things. I 
will make thee ruler over many things/' Matt, 
XXV., 23 ; and an address was made by the rector, 
the Rev, Alfred Brittain, who reviewed in an in- 

62 



teresting manner the work of the parish and spoke 
of its aims and objects. 

The visiting* clergymen present were the Rev. 
Mr. Webbe of Lyons, the Rev. James P. Foster of 
Geneva, the Rev. Thomas Duck of Branchport, the 
Rev. Edmund C. Bennett of Sodus and the Rev. 
Mr. Towson of Palmyra. 

The building is constructed of rock-faced Medina 
stone and split boulders ; and the plans adopted were 
furnished by Architects Walker & Briggs of Roch- 
ester. Messrs. Guenthner & Schattner had charge 
of the mason work, and the carpenter work was done 
by Ernest Krabbenschmidt. The building com- 
mittee was composed of the Rev. Mr. Brittain, 
Stephen P. Sherman, James M. Pitkin and George 
C. Perkins. 

The work so courageously undertaken in the face 
of many difficulties is now finished, but only the 
rector and the vestrymen who have so ably seconded 
his efforts, know how laborious has been the task 
from inception to completion. There are still ob- 
stacles to overcome, but with earnest and united 
effort and the blessing of God they may be con- 
quered. Let us hope and pray that the new church 
may be a worthy successor of the old one; that as 
long as one stone remains upon another it may stand 
for •* Whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things 
are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report ;'' 
and that from it may radiate a spiritual influence 
which shall be, through all the years to come, a 
blessing to this community. 

63 



Articles Deposited in tne Gorner-stone of 
tue New 6Hurcn 



Pictures of Exterior and Interior of the old 
church. 

Photographs of the Rev. Alfred Brittain, Messrs. 
Joel H. Prescott, J. M. Pitkin, Joseph Gilbert, S. 
F. Sherman and Miss Esther Brittain. 

Historical Sketch of this Parish, written by Miss 
Russell. 

Sentence of Consecration of old church by Bishop 
DeLancey in 1852. 

Altar Service and Prayer Book used in the old 
church from 1852 until 1893. 

Coins, Stamps; the first bill issued from the First 
National Bank, Newark. 

List of Subscribers to the new church. 

List of present officers of St. Mark's Parish. 

Copies of the Newark Courier, Newark Union, 
Arcadian Gazette, Newark Herald, Hammer and 
Pen, Spirit of Missions, Our Church Work, The 
Worker, The Living Church, The Church Standard, 
The Normal News, New York Times, St. Mark's 
Church Bulletin and the Easter Envelope used in 
1901. 



64 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



